Real Madrid beat Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 on Wednesday to win the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
It was a quiet first half at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium, host of the 2022 World Cup finals, but Madrid took the lead in the 37th minute with their first big chance.
A beautiful team goal saw the reigning European champions take control of the final, with Vinicius Junior eventually rounding the Pachuca keeper before providing Kylian Mbappé with a touch
Madrid needed just eight minutes to double their lead after the restart and put a hand on the trophy. Rodrygo was the man to give breathing room, feinting to shoot with his left foot on the edge of the penalty area before curling an exquisite finish into the bottom corner with his right.
CONCACAF champions Pachuca tried to reduce the deficit in the closing stages as they ramped up their intensity, but Madrid scored a third in the 84th minute to completely kill any hopes of a podium finish. Lucas Vázquez fell in the penalty area and Vinicius He almost converted the ensuing kick-off to secure the Intercontinental Cup for the Whites.
*Player ratings provided by FotMob*
|
player |
Ratings |
|---|---|
|
GC: Thibaut Courtois |
8.1/10 |
|
RB: Lucas Vazquez |
7.3/10 |
|
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni |
7.0/10 |
|
CB: Antonio Rudiger |
7.1/10 |
|
LB: Fran Garcia |
7.9/10 |
|
CM: Federico Valverde |
8.0/10 |
|
CM: Edward Camavinga |
7.9/10 |
|
RW: Rodrigo |
8.4/10 |
|
A.M.: Jude Bellingham |
7.9/10 |
|
LW: Vinicius Junior |
8.9/10 |
|
ST: Kylian Mbappé |
8.7/10 |
|
SUB: Brahim Diaz (62′ for Mbappe) |
6.6/10 |
|
SUB: Dani Ceballos (62′ for Camavinga) |
6.5/10 |
|
SUB: Luka Modric (70′ for Rodrygo) |
6.1/10 |
|
SUB: Raúl Asencio (88′ for Vázquez) |
N/A |
|
SUB: Arda Guler (88′ for Bellingham) |
N/A |
Subs not used: Andrew Lunin (GK), Fran Gonzalez (GK), Jesus Vallejo, Lorenzo Aguado, Youssef Enriquez, Endrick.
